Students show off champion steers at Nueces County Junior Livestock Show

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Courtney Shuttlesworth, 17, with Carroll FFA, shows her steer, Sage, during the market steer show at the 77th annual Nueces County Junior Livestock Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. Courtney earned Grand Champion Steer in her division.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

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Michael Perez, 12 (left), and Courtney Shuttlesworth, 17, with Carroll FFA, lead their steers around the ring during the market steer show at the 77th annual Nueces County Junior Livestock Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds on Friday.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

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Emily Olvera, 12, with Bishop FFA, shows her steer, Toby, during the market steer show at the 77th annual Nueces County Junior Livestock Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. Emily earned Reserve Champion Steer in her division. The show continues today with the Parade of Champions beginning at 9 a.m.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

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Wyatt McCown, 16, with Tuloso-Midway FFA, shows his steer, Peanut, during the market steer show at the 77th annual Nueces County Junior Livestock Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds on Friday. Wyatt earned Grand Champion Steer in his division.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

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Hector Hernandez watches the Market Steer Show on Friday with his son, Wyatt, 4, at the 77th annual Nueces County Junior Livestock Show.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times
Michael Anthony Lopez, 10, with Carroll FFA, shows his steer, J.C., which was named after Joe Cotten's barbecue restaurant, during the market steer show at the 77th annual Nueces County Junior Livestock Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. Michael earned Reserve Champion Steer in his division.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

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Mario Lopez, 10, with Banquette FFA, shows his steer, Rusty, during the market steer show at the 77th annual Nueces County Junior Livestock Show at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds on Friday.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

CORPUS CHRISTI - Adrian "A.D." Peña II's steer, Beast, lived up to its name Friday morning, besting the competition to be named Grand Champion Steer in the intermediate division at the Nueces County Junior Livestock Show.

An eighth-grade student with the Banquete FFA organization, Peña began showing animals in third grade with a goat, which he described as more stubborn than the steers he has raised ever since.

Peña has taken care of Beast since April, feeding the 1,250-pound steer before and after school, as well as leading it on walks. Although this is the first year Peña has raised a grand champion animal, he has placed in previous shows.

A.D.'s father, Adrian, said the key to a good finish is to start off with a good animal. It's important that the animal is well-fed, washed and walked on a regular basis. Peña raised hogs when he was in school and his wife helped breed heifers.

Peña said he helped his son care for Beast because A.D. also is involved in baseball, football, track and basketball. Adrian Peña said his son has matured since he first got involved in the livestock show.

"It's a lot of work and I credit him a lot — him and my wife because she puts up with it," Peña said.

Freeman James, overall grand champion showman, has shown cattle since he was 11. James is now a senior at Tuloso-Midway High School.

It takes a lot of time to prepare the steers for the event, said Michelle, James' mother, but his calm demeanor suits his purpose.

"They don't just behave like this automatically," she said, gesturing to James in the center arena while waiting on the judge with his steer.

Competition judge Aaron Cooper, assistant professor of animal science at Texas A&M University-Commerce, said a big part of the showmanship category is the student's ability to control their animal.

As a former competitor, Cooper said he learned early on through constructive criticism at showings as well as watching the best.